remains Flashcards
simon armitage
remains
- soldiers remain damaged beyond repair after the war is over
- graphic connotations
- refers o the physical remains of the looter, as well as the death and disposal of the body
- war strips them of their individuality and sensitivity to death, leaving them with the remains of a body
summary
about a soldier who is haunted by his involvement in the shooting of a bank looter. it also explores the repercussions of war for individuals who come out of conflict zones and raise awareness of conditions such as PTSD
context
- raises awareness for PTSD
- written for the “not dead” documentary about the impact on war on soldiers returning home
“on another occasion”
- media res - serves to confuse the reader as they initially don’t know what’s going on
- sounds like a series of stories and the reader is listening in
“probably armed, possibly not”
- doubt, which contrasts strongly with the definite action that follows
- slight chance he could’ve been innocent
“myself and somebody else and somebody else”
shows detachment, and how he doesn’t even know the names of those he is working to kill with
“tosses his guts back into his body”
casual, cold action - no respect for the dead man
- “tosses” connotes the lack of care and respect as it’s being treated like an object
- could be an action that they are used to doing
“blood-shadow”
foreshadows the things that are going to be haunting him
- visual reminder of the death
- death has stained his conscience and memory just as the blood has stained the street
- no way to escape the memory
“his bloody life in my bloody hands”
“bloody life” -could be swearing in anger or his physically bloody body
“my” - no collective responsibility, he feels completely responsible
form
no rhyme - makes it sound like someone is telling a story
themes
- effects of conflict
- reality of conflict
- memory
- negative emotions - guilt
- individual experiences
